Thinking of Running for Office?

The San Mateo County Elections Office will hold two candidate seminars for potential candidates running for office or considering running for office in the upcoming June 5 Presidential Primary Election.

The first Candidate Seminar will be held on Feb.8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Elections Office, 40 Tower Road in San Mateo.

The seminar is designed for candidates and their staff, but is open to anyone who is interested in the process.

The second seminar will be held on Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the same location.

The Elections office will also hold a Data Seminar on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. for candidates and campaign staff interested in learning more about obtaining voter data and its many uses.

Candidates and their staff are welcome; RSVPs are requested. All seminars are open to the public.

“Traditionally, we offer candidate seminars to help candidates or interested parties obtain information about the requirements of running for local office,” Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, said in a statement.

“Once the mechanics of running for office are understood, the filing process is no longer complicated,” he said.

Current public office holders and newcomers can both benefit from information provided at the seminar.

In addition, all attendees will be given a bound copy of the updated 81 page Candidate’s Guide. The guide is also available on www.shapethefuture.org, the Elections website.

“The purpose of the seminar is to encourage interest in public service and to provide helpful guidance and resources to candidates,” Church said.

“At the seminar, elections staff will review the pertinent details and procedures that apply to candidates for local office,” he said.

Topics covered will include campaign finance reports, the filing process, the calendar of applicable deadlines, required forms, candidate statements, voter registration guidelines, requirements for campaign signs, and various election resources, rules and regulations for campaign activities and how to access and use the voter registration data as allowed by law.         

To RSVP to attend a candidate or data seminar, attendees may do so online athttp://shapethefuture.org/elections/2012/june/candidateseminar/default.asp or by contacting Meaghan Hassel Shearer, Candidate Filing Officer, at 650.312.5293 or mhasselshearer@smcare.org.

Attendees are asked to provide their name, which seminar date they plan to attend and the number of persons attending.

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